[Creature] Yearning to die... (PG-13)

Scarred Warrior

Medium Monsterous Humanoid
Hit Dice: 5d8+30 (52 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 22 (+12 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 22
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+9
Attack: Masterwork Greatsword +10/+5 melee (2d6+6/19-20x2)
Full Attack: Masterwork Greatsword +10/+5 melee (2d6+6/19-20x2) or 2 slams +9 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/-, deaf, endurance beyond measure, ferocity, heart's thorn, regeneration 5
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +4, Will +4
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 10, Con 22, Int 3, Wis 10, Cha 8
Skills: Spot +8
Feats: Endurance, Great Fortitude(B), Quick Recovery
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary, Trio, Squad (6-14 scarred warriors), Platoon (25-40 scarred warriors), Massacre (60+)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Usually neutral evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: -

A scarred warrior could once have been human. Two arms, two legs, perhaps a head. But whatever it once was, what stands before you now can no longer be called a man. The creature is so covered in scar tissue that no distinguish marks can be seen. Not even clothes drape this being's body, exposing bleeding orifices and eyes that have not been covered over only because of routine cutting away of the scabrous material for neccessary functions. The entire creature reeks of rot and gangrene but it retains a vitality that borders on the mad.

A scarred warrior is the closest thing one could come to a living dead man. When a criminal is caught whoes acts are so heinous, so inhuman, that even death itself is too light a punishment, are they sentenced to become a scarred warrior, a creature who is rendered into a living machine. A scarred warrior is forced to train, train until their very bones break and their muscles tear themselves off their shattered remains. No creature could sustain the brutal, dehumanizing torture they are put through, if not for what is often called the Heart's Thorn. These large metallic stakes are driven into the heart of the criminal, which instead of killing, refuse to let them die. Thus they not so much learn to ignore pain, but that their minds themselves no longer register it. They become numb and unfeeling, both mentally and physically, tormented until there is nothing left but a dumb obedience.

If a scarred warrior could be said to have any remaining thought, any desire still buried deep beneath the emotional scarring and heinous brain washing, it would be to die. To truley and fully end an existence that would be unbearable if they could recall what it was like to feel the unbearable. Thus when a scarred warrior throws himself into battle he indeed feels no fear, for the one thing worse is to continue to live. They are sent into battle as shock troops, to throw themselves upon enemy swords and wreak havoc.

A scarred warrior usually has at least one level in some battle oriented class such as barbarian or fighter.

A scarred warrior recalls rudimentary bits of their native language but are unable to hear it. Instead they are communicated to by the delivering of a series of horrible blows as a code that can bypass even their numbness.

Combat
A scarred warrior obeys implicitly and literally any command given it by a superior, and is capable of a number of strategies if so directed. If left to their own devices, a scarred warrior charges blindly at the nearest enemy around to kill or be killed, caring not at all which.

Deaf (Ex): A scarred warrior can hear nothing, scabs long ago having covered over all hsound-sensing organs. They automatically fail all listen checks.

Endurance Beyond Measure (Ex): A scarred warrior is immune to any and all damage and conditions stemming from pain or fear effects. Scarred warriors are also not at risk of death from a result of massive damage.

Ferocity (Ex): A scarred warrior is unaffected by the proximity to death and may fight without penalty even while disabled or dying.

Heart's Thorn (Su):
The heart's thorn grants a number of abilities to its victims.

Once per day when a scarred warrior would normally be killed the stake sends a shock of healing energy through its victim which brings it back to 0 hit points. A scarred warrior also gains regeneration 5. Acid and fire deals normal damage. Finally a scarred warrior gains a +6 bonus to saves against death affects.

The heart's thorn is nearly impossible to remove from its victim as scar tissue has completely grown over and buried it deep below. It may be removed from an unconscious scarred warrior by making a successful DC 15 Heal check. An opposed strength check must then be made. If successfully removed a scarred warrior dies instantly and the stake ceases to function.

Nice... this is great to spring on your unsuspecting players. They fight this horrible, bleeding, scar-tissue thing, batter it down to the ground, turn their backs... and then this thing comes at them again, even stronger then before (due to Regeneration).

Theres a line in a game called Dawn of War, one of the units can say when you click on it;

I long for the sweet release only Death can bring.

This fits. Perfectly.

This does seem very 40k-esque (which is not a bad thing, mind) - bleak, miserable and utterly doomed.

I love it

You could also have it as the 'totally loyal warrior', his loyalty to the country/rulrer/religon/whatever causing him to undergo this horrible process.

"Not even in death does duty end"

"Innocence is no excuse."

The Inquisition rocks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Artisan

You could also have it as the 'totally loyal warrior', his loyalty to the country/rulrer/religon/whatever causing him to undergo this horrible process.

"Not even in death does duty end"

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Sure, you could do it like that to. The guy would have to already be utterly INSANE, but madmen don't seem to be going extinct any time soon ;)